Glossary

This is a dynamic list. By nature, it may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it.

This glossary describes commonly-used terms in association football, the 4chan Cup and Pro Evolution Soccer. Many of the foremost are taken from Wikipedia's glossary of association football terms page.

It seeks to avoid defining common English words and phrases that have no special meaning within football. Exceptions include cases where a word or phrase's use in the context of football might cause confusion to someone not familiar with the sport (such as clean sheet), or where it is fundamental to understanding the sport (such as goal). Entries on nicknames relating to specific players or teams are actively avoided.

0-9

• 2–3–5: common 19th- and early 20th-century formation consisting of two defensive players (previously known as full backs), three midfield players (half-backs), and five forward players. Also known as the pyramid formation. Variations include the 2–3–2–3 (the Metodo or WW formation), where the inside forwards take up deeper positions.
• 3 points for a win: see Three points for a win.
• 4–4–2: common modern formation used with four defenders, four midfielders, and two attacking players. There are many variants of this formation, such as the 4–4–2 diamond, where the four midfielders are assembled in a diamond shape without wide midfielders, and the 4–1–3–2, where one midfielder is expected to adopt a defensive position, allowing the other three to concentrate on attacking.
• 4–5–1: common modern formation used with four defenders, five midfielders and one striker. By pushing the wingers forward, this formation can be adapted into a 4–3–3; teams frequently play 4–3–3 when they have the ball, and revert to 4–5–1 when they lose possession. Variants include the 4–4–1–1, where a striker drops deep or an attacking midfielder pushes forward to play in a supporting role to the main striker, the 4–2–3–1, where two holding midfielders are used, and the 4–3–2–1 (or Christmas Tree), which uses three central midfielders behind two attacking midfielders.
• 4CCC: The 4chan Cup Committee, the governing body of the 4chan Cup.
• 4chan Cup: Name given to official tournaments hosted by the 4CCC. The four tournaments are known as the Spring Babby, Summer, Autumn Babby and Winter Cups.
• >4 minutes: Term often used in reference to /sci/ after their management missed a deadline by four minutes before a match during the 2012 4chan Spring Babby Cup Friendlies, leaving them heavily penalised for the match.
• 66 player or 66 overall player: A standard player that has 66 in every stat.

A

• Adboard: Generally used to refer to custom adboards.
• Added time: see Stoppage time.
• Advantage: decision made by the referee during a game, where a player is fouled, but play is allowed to continue because the team that suffered the foul is in a better position than they would have been had the referee stopped the game.
• Against the run of play: describes a goal scored, or a win or draw achieved, by a side that was being clearly outplayed.
• Aggregate or aggregate score:combined score of matches between two teams in a two-legged match.
• Anti-football: perjorative term for a particularly robust and defensive style of play.
• Armband: worn by a team's captain, to signify that role. Black armbands are occasionally worn by an entire team in commemoration of a death or tragic event.
• Arrows: A player attribute, editable in PES Editor, which applies to the movement of a given player during play.
• Assist: pass that leads to a goal being scored.
• Assistant referee: one of a number of officials who assist the referee in controlling a match.
• At the end of the day: An infuriating cliche muttered only to fill time, if anyone should use this phrase their opinion on sport is utterly devalued.
• Attacker: usually refers to a striker, but can be used to describe any player close to the opposing team's goal line.

B

• Babby: Used to refer to a team either at or recently promoted from Babby Cup level.
• Babby Cup: Lower-level tournament for 32 teams looking to qualify for top-tier competition.
• Back-pass rule: rule introduced into the Laws of the Game in 1992 to help speed up play, specifying that goalkeepers are not allowed to pick up the ball if it was intentionally kicked back to them by a teammate.
• Backheel: pass between team-mates, in which one player uses their heel to propel the ball backwards to another player. Sometimes spelt back heel.
• Ball: spherical object normally kicked around by football players. Balls used in official matches are standardised for size, weight, and material, and manufactured to the specifications set in the Laws of the Game.
• Banner: Generally used to refer to custom banners.
• Bench: area on the edge of the pitch where a team's substitutes and coaches sit, usually consisting an actual covered bench or a row of seats. More formally known as the substitutes' bench. Also sometimes called a dugout.
• Bend: skill attribute in which players strike the ball in a manner that applies spin, resulting in the flight of the ball curving, or bending, in mid-air. Players who are especially adept at achieving this will often be their team's designated free kick taker, as they are able to bend the ball around walls while taking shots at goal.
• Bicycle kick: move made by a player with their back to the goal. The player throws their body into the air, makes a shearing movement with the legs to get one leg in front of the other, and attempts to play the ball backwards over their own head, all before returning to the ground. Also known as an overhead kick.
• Blooter: A term used to describe a goal from long range.
• Booking: act of noting the offender in a cautionable offence, which results in a yellow card.
• Box: see Penalty area.
• Break: attacking manoeuvre in which a several members of a defending team gain possession of the ball and suddenly counter-attack into their opponent's half of the pitch, overwhelming their opponents' defence in greater numbers, usually as a result of the opposing defenders' being out of position after having supported their attackers.
• Bronze player: Used to describe a non-standard player with stats rated at 77 across the board. Bronze players were phased out to be replaced by the GGSS system.
• Byline: markings on the shortest side of the pitch, which run from the posts to the corners. Also known as the End line.

C

• Cap: appearance of a player for a board. Originates from the traditional presentation of a cap to British players who made international appearances.
• Captain: player chosen to lead a team.
• Caretaker manager: person chosen to perform managerial duties when no permanent manager is installed.
• Catenaccio: tactical system that puts an emphasis on defence. In Italian, catenaccio means "door-bolt", implying a highly organised and effective backline defence to prevent goals.
• Caution: see yellow card.
• Cards: Equippable attributes to players which enhance a specific ability. Skillcards enhance a technical ability, while playstyle cards generally enhance a tactical ability.
• Centre circle: 10-yard radius circle around the centre spot.
• Centre spot: mark in the centre of the pitch from which play is started at the beginning of each half, and restarted following the scoring of a goal.
• Challenge: see tackle.
• Channel: empty space between the fullback and the central defender when a defense is playing with a back four. Wide-playing strikers are said to operate "in the channels".
• Chance: situation where an attacking player can shoot at goal, with a realistic prospect of scoring. Also known as an opportunity.
• Chip: shot hit with the intention of the ball going over the goalkeeper and into the goal.
• Christmas tree: see 4–5–1. More specifically a 4-3-2-1, in which the formation takes the shape of a Christmas Tree with the goalkeeper as the trunk.
• Clean sheet: when a goalkeeper or team does not concede a single goal during a match.
• Clearance: when a player kicks the ball away from the goal they are defending.
• Corner flag: flags are placed in each of the four corners of the pitch to help mark the boundaries of the playing area.
• Corner kick: kick taken from within a one-yard radius of the corner flag; a method of restarting play when a player puts the ball behind their own goal line without a goal being scored.
• Corridor of uncertainty: a cross or pass which is delivered into the area in front of the goalkeeper and behind the last line of defence.
• Conditioning: Attribute, specific to each player, which is randomly generated before each match. Conditions range from very poor to excellent, with better conditioning providing a stat buff and worse conditioning inflicting a stat debuff.
• Counter-attack or counterattack: see break.
• Cross: delivery of the ball into the penalty area by the attacking team, usually from the area between the penalty box and the touchline.
• Crossbar: horizontal bar across the top of the goal.
• Cruijff Turn: type of turn named after Dutchman Johan Cruyff; designed to lose an opponent.
• Cuauhtemiña: skill move attributed to Mexican player Cuauhtémoc Blanco, which he performed notably at the 1998 World Cup. When multiple players attempted to tackle him, he trapped the ball between his feet and jumped over them, releasing the ball in the air and landing with it under control.
• Cup competition: knockout competition in which teams compete for a trophy, the winners of each game eliminating the losers from the competition. A cup final sees the two remaining teams play a match, which can be two-legged, for the trophy.
• Cup tie: match in a cup competition.
• Curl: see bend.
• Custodian: alternative term for a goalkeeper.

D

• D: semi-circular arc at the edge of the penalty area, used to indicate the portion of the 10-yard distance around the penalty spot that lies outside the penalty area. Referred to in the Laws of the Game as "the penalty arc".
• Dead ball: situation when the game is restarted with the ball stationary, such as a free kick.
• Default Formations: Any one of eleven default formations within PES 2013.
• Defender: one of the four main positions in football. Defenders are positioned in front of the goalkeeper and have the principal role of keeping the opposition away from their goal.
• Derby: match between two, usually local, rivals.
• Dirty work: the type of play undertaken by a defensive midfielder – such as making tackles in midfield, playing short passes to the wing, and breaking up opponents' attacking moves – which is necessary for a team to be successful, but rarely receives recognition or acclaim, and is not considered "glamorous".
• Dissent: breach of the Laws of the Game, whereby a player uses offensive language or gestures towards official(s). In extreme cases it can result in yellow or red cards being issued.
• Diving: form of cheating, sometimes employed by an attacking player to win a free kick or penalty. When being challenged for the ball by an opponent, the player will throw themselves to the floor as though they has been fouled, in an attempt to deceive the referee into thinking a foul has been committed. Also known as a flop.
• Double: most commonly used when a club wins both its domestic league and its country's major cup competition in the same season. Also used to describe a pair of victories, home and away, by one club over another in the same league season.
• Dots: Informal term for mentality.
• Dribbling: when a player runs with the ball at their feet under close control, especially when this successfully outmanoeuvres one or more opponents in close proximity without losing possession.
• Drop ball: method used to restart a game, sometimes when a player has been injured accidentally and the game is stopped while the ball is still in play.
• Dugout: see bench.
• Dummy: skill move performed by a player receiving a pass from a teammate; the player receiving the ball will angle their body in such a way that the opponent thinks they are going to play the ball. The player will then intentionally allow the ball to run by them to a teammate close by without touching it, confusing the opponent as to which player has the ball.

E

• Elevator team: see Yo-yo club.
• End-to-End stuff: A popular commentary cliche signifying the game is going back and forth between the two teams
• Equaliser: goal that makes the score even.
• Exhibition match: see Friendly.
• Extra time: additional period, normally two halves of 15 minutes, used to determine the winner in some tied cup matches.

F

• Face: Generally used to refer to custom faces.
• Fan: follower of a football team or someone who simply enjoys watching the game. Also known as supporter.
• Fans' favourite: player that is extremely popular with fans of a club or nation.
• Fatigue: Attribute, specific to each player, which is dependent on a number of factors including the amount of activity performed in recent matches. Higher levels of fatigue result in faster stamina depletion and makes players more prone to errors.
• Favourite: team that is expected to win a particular match or tournament. Opposite of underdog.
• Feign injury: see play-acting
• Field of play: see pitch.
• Final whistle: see full-time.
• First eleven: the eleven players who, when available, would be the ones usually chosen by the team's manager to start a game.
• First team: the most senior team fielded by a club.
• First touch: skill attribute for a player which signifies their ability to bring the ball completely under control immediately upon receiving it.
• Flag: small rectangular flag attached to a handle, used by an assistant referee to signal that they have seen a foul or other infraction take place. One assistant referee's flag is a solid colour (often yellow), and their colleague's has a two-colour (often red and yellow) quartered pattern. Some flags have buttons on the handle, which will activate an alarm worn by the referee to attract their attention. Can also refer to the corner flag.
• Fixture: scheduled match which has yet to be played.
• Flat back four: defensive positioning system, in which the primary first position of each member of a four-man defense is in a straight line across the pitch; often used in conjunction with an offside trap. In formations with three centre backs, the phrase "flat back three" is sometimes used.
• Flick-on: when a player receives a pass from a teammate and, instead of controlling it, touches the ball with their head or foot while it is moving past them, with the intent of helping the ball reach another teammate
• Football: a widely used name for association football. Can also refer to the ball.
• Form: Adjustable attribute which alters the random generation of a player's conditioning.
• Formation: how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. The formation is often denoted numerically, with the numbers referring to the corresponding number of players in defensive, midfield and attacking positions.
• Forward: see Striker.
• Fox in the box: see Goal poacher.
• Foul: breach of the Laws of the Game by a player, punishable by a free-kick or penalty. Such acts can lead to yellow or red cards depending on their severity.
• Free kick: the result of a foul outside the penalty area, given against the offending team. Free kicks can be either direct (shot straight towards the goal) or indirect (the ball must touch another player before a goal can be scored).
• Friendly: match arranged by two teams with no competitive value, such as a player's testimonial or a warm-up match before a season begins.
• Fullback: position on either side of the defence, whose job is to try to prevent the opposing team attacking down the wings. Also spelt full back or full-back.
• Full-time: either (1) the end of the game, signalled by the referees whistle (also known as the final whistle), (2) a professional footballer or club i.e. their only profession or (3) a word used to describe a permanent coach.
• Funny old game: A popular commentary cliche uttered after something unexpected happens during the course of the match.

G

• Game of two halves: expression used by commentators to describe a close match where one team dominates each half.
• Gameplay Tool: Software created by Jenkey1002 which allows for a range of in-game editing options on Pro Evolution Soccer.
• GGSS: short for Gold, Gold, Silver, Silver, the new team structure system from Spring 2013 onwards.
• Giant-killing: cliché used to describe a lower division team defeating another team from a much higher division in that country's league.
• Give-and-go: see One-two.
• Goal: the only method of scoring in football; for a goal to be awarded the ball must pass completely over the goal line in the area between the posts and beneath the crossbar.
• Goal average: number of goals scored divided by number of goals conceded. Used as a tie-breaking method before the introduction of goal difference.
• Goal difference: net difference between goals scored and goals conceded. Used to differentiate league positions when clubs are tied on points.
• Goalkeeper: player closest to the goal a team is defending. A goalkeeper has the job of preventing the opposition from scoring. They are the only player on the pitch that can handle the ball in open play, although they can only do so in the penalty area. Known informally as a keeper or a goalie.
• Goal kick: method of restarting play when the ball is played over the goal line without a goal being scored.
• Goal line: line at one of the shorter ends of the pitch, spanning from one corner flag to another, with the goalposts situated at the halfway point. Also spelt goal-line.
• Goal poacher: type of striker, primarily known for excellent scoring ability and movement inside the penalty area. Also known as a fox in the box.
• Goalmouth: the section of the pitch immediately in front of the goal.
• Goalmouth scramble: when multiple players from both teams attempt to gain control of a loose ball in the goalmouth. This often results in a short period of chaotic play involving attackers shooting towards goal and defenders blocking shots, balls ricocheting around the goalmouth, and players falling over. Also known as a scrimmage.
• Goalpost: vertical bars at either side of the goal.
• GOAT: Acronym standing for Greatest Of All Time, often used to describe a player or team of legendary stature.
• Golden goal: method of determining the winner of a match which is a draw after 90 minutes of play. Up to an additional 30 minutes are played in two 15-minute halves, the first team to score wins and the match ends immediately. See also Silver goal.
• Gold player: Used to describe a non-standard player with stats rated at 99 across the board.
• Group of death: group in a cup competition which is unusually competitive, because the number of strong teams in the group is greater than the number of qualifying places available for the next phase of the tournament.

H

• Half-back: position employed in a 2–3–5 formation, half-backs would play in front of the full-backs and behind the forwards. The middle half-back was known as a centre-half; those on either side were known as wing-halves.
• Half-time: break between the two halves of a match, usually lasts 15 minutes.
• Half-volley: pass or shot in which the ball is struck just as, or just after, it touches the ground.
• Handbags: colloquialism, especially in the United Kingdom, used to describe an event where two or more players from opposing teams square up to each other in a threatening manner, or push and jostle each other in an attempt to assert themselves, without any actual violent conduct taking place.
• Hand-ball or handball: when a player other than a goalkeeper deliberately touches the ball with their hand in active play. A foul is given against the player if spotted.
• Hat-trick: when a player scores three goals in a single match.
• Header: using the head as a means of playing or controlling the ball.
• Height Abuse: A phrase mentioned whenever when a team loses because they can't defend crosses.
• High foot: colloquialism for what is described in the Laws of the Game as "Playing in a dangerous manner". A foul is awarded if the referee determines that a player's foot has moved into a dangerously high position while trying to play the ball, especially if the foot threatens or causes an injury to an opponent.
• Holding role or Holding midfielder: central midfielder whose primary role is to protect the defence.
• Hold up the ball: when a player, usually a forward, receives a long ball from a teammate, and controls and shields it from the opposition, with the intent of slowing the play down to allow teammates to join the attack.
• Hole: space on a pitch between the midfield and forwards. In formations where attacking midfielders or deep-lying forwards are used, they are said to be "playing in the hole".
• Hollywood ball: a spectacular-looking long range pass, but one which rarely achieves what the passer hopes.
• Home and away: a team's own ground and their opponent's, respectively. The team playing at their own stadium is said to have "home advantage."
• Hospital ball: sometimes referred to as hospital pass; when a player plays a slightly under-strength pass to a teammate, to such an extent that it becomes likely that both the teammate and an opposing player will come into contact with the ball simultaneously, therefore increasing the likelihood of one or both players suffering an injury while challenging for the ball.
• Howler: glaring and possibly amusing error made by a player or referee during a match.

I

• Indirect free kick: type of free kick. Unlike in a direct free kick, a goal may not be scored directly from the indirect kick.
• Injury time: see stoppage time.
• Inside forward: position employed in a 2–3–5 formation. The inside forwards played just behind the centre forward, similar to the modern attacking midfielder or second striker.
• Intercept: to prevent a pass from reaching its intended recipient.
• Invitational: A tournament where teams are invited to play the tournament organiser. These are usually unofficial in nature.

J

• Journeyman: player who has represented many different clubs over their career. Opposite of one-club man.

K

• Keeper: see goalkeeper.
• Keepie-uppie: the skill of juggling a football, keeping it off the ground using the feet, the knees, the chest, the shoulders or the head. Also known as keepy-uppy or kick-ups. The phrases are sometimes spelt as two separate words, for instance keepie uppie.
• Kick and rush: style of play. See also Long ball.
• Kick-off: method of starting a match; the ball must be played forwards from the centre spot with all members of the opposing team at least 10 yards from the ball. Also used to restart the match when a goal has been scored.
• Kit: football-specific clothing worn by players, consisting at the minimum of a shirt, shorts, socks, specialised footwear, and (for goalkeepers) specialised gloves. Also known as a uniform or a strip. Also used to refer to custom kits within Pro Evolution Soccer.
• Kitserver: An add-on program for the Pro Evolution Soccer series. It is a loader and manager for various modules, where each module is built as a (typically) independent DLL containing logic to enhance the game in a particular aspect.

L

• Last man: situation where an attacking player is in possession, with only one opposing defender between the ball and the goal. If the defender commits a foul on the attacker, a red card is usually shown.
• Lay-off pass: short pass, usually lateral, played delicately into the space immediately in front of a teammate who is arriving at speed from behind the player making the pass; the player receiving the pass will then be able to take control of the ball without breaking stride, or (if they are close enough to the goal) attempt to score with a first-time shot.
• Laws of the Game: codified rules that help define association football. These laws are published by the sport's governing body FIFA, with the approval of the International Football Association Board, the body that writes and maintains the laws. The laws mention: the number of players a team should have, the game length, the size of the field and ball, the type and nature of fouls that referees may penalise, the frequently misinterpreted offside law, and many other laws that define the sport.
• League: form of competition in which clubs are ranked by the number of points they accumulate over a series of matches. Often structured as round-robin tournaments.
• Libero: see Sweeper.
• Linesman: see Assistant referee.
• Long ball: attempt to distribute the ball a long distance down the field via a cross, without the intention to pass it to the feet of the receiving player. Often used to speed up play, the technique can be especially effective for a team with either fast or tall strikers.

M

• Manager: the individual in charge of the day-to-day running of the team. Duties of the manager usually include overseeing training sessions, designing tactical plays, choosing the team's formation, picking the starting eleven, and making tactical switches and substitutions during games. Some managers also take on backroom administrative responsibilities such as signing players, negotiating player contracts. Sometimes these tasks are also undertaken by a two separate individuals: a Head coach for on-field tasks, and a General manager or Director of Football for off-field administrative duties.
• Man of the match: award, often decided by pundits or sponsors, given to the best player in a game.
• Man-to-man marking: system of marking in which each player is responsible for an opposing player rather than an area of the pitch. Compare with zonal marking.
• Mare: a player having a terrible game, short for nightmare - often used as "he's having a mare".
• Marking: Defensive strategy, aimed at preventing an attacker from receiving the ball from a teammate.
• Match fixing: expression used to describe the situation when a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result motivated by financial incentives paid to players, team officials or referees in violation of the rules of the game. See rigged.
• Mentality: A player attribute, editable in PES Editor, which applies to the attacking or defensive nature of that player.
• Medal player: Used to describe a non-standard player. Can refer to gold, silver, or bronze players or all three of these. Bronze players were phased out in Spring 2013 to be replaced by the GGSS system.
• Mickey Mouse cup: cup, league, or other competition considered of a lower standard, importance, or significance.
• Midfielder: one of the four main positions in football. Midfielders are positioned between the defenders and strikers.
• Minnow: see underdog.
• Mixer: see Penalty area, a Sunday League favourite.

N

• Near post/Far post: notional concept, referring to the position of a goalkeeper in relation to the posts. When an attacker scores a goal by placing the ball between the goalkeeper and the post to which they are closest, the goalkeeper is said to have been beaten at the near post.
• Neutral ground: venue for a match that belongs to neither team.
• Nutmeg: when a player intentionally plays the ball between an opponent's legs, runs past the opponent, and collects their own pass.
• No man's land: An area in which the goalkeeper rushes for the ball and is left hapless.

O

• Obstruction: illegal defensive technique, in which a defensive player who does not have control of the ball positions their body between the ball and an attacking opponent, or otherwise blocks or checks an opponent, in order to prevent that opponent from reaching the ball. When the defensive player has control of the ball, this technique is known as shielding, and is permitted under the laws of the game.
• Offside: Law 11 of the laws of football, relating to the positioning of defending players in relation to attacking players when the ball is played to an attacking player by a teammate. In its most basic form, a player is offside if they are in their opponent's half of the field, and is closer to the goal line than both the second-last defender and the ball at the moment the ball is played to them by a teammate.
• Offside trap: defensive tactical maneuver, in which each member of a team's defense will simultaneously step forward as the ball is played forward to an opponent, in an attempt to put that opponent in an offside position. An unsuccessful performance of this maneuver results in the opponent "beating the offside trap".
• Olympic goal: goal scored directly from a corner kick.
• One touch: style of play in which the ball is passed around quickly using just one touch. Also used for the same type of training which aims to improve the speed of players' reaction when receiving the ball. See also Tiki-taka.
• One-on-one: situation where the only player between an attacking player and the goal is the opponent's goalkeeper.
• One-two: skill move between team mates to move the ball past an opponent. Player One passes the ball to Player Two and runs past the opponent, whereupon they immediately receive the ball back from Player Two, who has received, controlled, and passed the ball in one movement. Also known as a give-and-go.
• Open goal: where no player is defending the goal.
• Opportunity: see chance.
• Outfield player: any player other than the goalkeeper.
• Outside forward: position used in a 2–3–5 formation, in which they are the main attacking threat from the flanks. Similar to modern wingers.
• Overhead kick: see Bicycle kick.
• Overlap: move between teammates. An attacking player (who has the ball) is shadowed by a single defender; the attacker's teammate runs past both players, forcing the defender to either continue to shadow the player on the ball, or attempt to prevent the teammate from receiving a pass. The first player can either pass the ball or keep possession, depending on which decision the defender makes.
• Own goal: where a player scores a goal against their own team, usually as the result of an error.

P

• Panenka: skill move used when taking a penalty kick wherein the player taking the penalty delicately chips the ball over a diving goalkeeper, rather than striking the ball firmly, as is the norm. Named after Antonín Panenka, who famously scored such a penalty for Czechoslovakia against West Germany in the final of the 1976 UEFA European Football Championship.
• Parking the bus: expression used when all the players on a team play defensively, usually when the team is winning by a narrow margin. See also Catenaccio.
• Pass: when a player kicks the ball to one of their teammates.
• Passive offside: exception to the offside rule, wherein play may continue if a player in an offside position makes no attempt to involve himself in the game at the moment an offside call would usually be made, and allows an onside player to win control of the ball instead.
• Penalty area: rectangular area measuring 44 yards (40.2 metres) by 18 yards (16.5 metres) in front of each goal.
• Penalty kick: kick taken 12 yards (11 metres) from goal, awarded when a team commits a foul inside its own penalty area, and the infringement would usually be punishable by a direct free kick.
• Penalty shootout: method of deciding a match in a knockout competition, which has ended in a draw after full-time and extra-time. Players from each side take it in turns to attempt to score a penalty against the opposition goalkeeper. Sudden death is introduced if scores are level after five penalties have been taken by either side. Also spelt penalty shoot-out.
• Perfect hat-trick: when a player scores three goals in a single match, one with the left foot, one with the right foot and one with a header.
• PES Editor: Software which allows for the easier editing of player stats and team tactics, as well as importing and exporting of attributes and tactics.
• Phantom goal: see Ghost goal.
• Pitch: playing surface for a game of football; usually a specially prepared grass field. Referred to in the Laws of the Game as the field of play.
• Play-acting: similar to diving, play-acting is deceiving the officials that a player is injured to try to gain an advantage or force the referee to punish the "aggressor". Also known as feigning injury or Diving.
• Play to the whistle: an informal phrase used to instruct players to keep on playing until the referee blows their whistle.
• Playing advantage: see advantage.
• Playmaker: attacking player whose job is to control the flow of their team's play.
• Playoff: series of matches towards the end of the season that determine clubs which are promoted and/or relegated, determine tied league positions or determine qualifiers for continental competitions. In some leagues, playoffs are also used to determine that season's champions.
• Points deduction: method of punishing clubs for breaching the rules of a tournament by reducing the number of accumulated points during a league season.
• Post: see goalpost.
• Postage Stamp: The very corner of the net, the place no keeper can reach.
• Preset: Any one of up to four customisable formations which can be switched in PES at will by a manager.
• Pro Evolution Soccer: Also known as PES, a series of football-based video games created by Konami. The 4chan Cup is played using these games.
• Professional foul: foul committed by a player who is aware that they are about to intentionally commit the foul, and who does so having calculated the risk, and determined that committing the foul and taking a yellow card or even a red card will be more beneficial to their team than if the player allowed their opponent to continue unimpeded.
• Promotion: when a club moves up to a higher division in the league hierarchy as a result of being one of the best teams in their division at the end

of a season.

R

• Rabona: method of kicking the football whereby the kicking leg is wrapped around the back of the standing leg.
• Red card: awarded to a player for either a single serious cautionable offence or following two yellow cards. The player receiving the red card is compelled to leave the game for the rest of its duration, and that player's team is not allowed to replace him with another player. A player receiving the red card is said to have been sent off or ejected.
• Reducer: hard tackle, usually early in a game, meant to intimidate an attacking player.
• Referee: the official who presides over a match, with the help of assistant referees and the fourth official.
• Regulation: A corruption of the word Relegation
• Replacement: see substitute
• Relegation: when a club moves down to a lower division in the league hierarchy as a result of gaining the least number of points in their division at the end of a season.
• Retired number: squad number which is no longer used as a form of recognising an individual player's loyal service to the club. Sometimes a number is retired as a memorial after their death.
• Rigged: Term regularly used since the 2012 Winter Cup to describe any questionable decisions made or activities performed by the 4CCC. Variants include rogged and rugged.
• Round-robin tournament: competition in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn. A competition where each team plays the other teams twice is known as a double round-robin.
• Rounding the 'keeper: attacking move in which a player attempts to dribble the ball around the goalkeeper, hoping to leave an open goal.
• Route one: direct, attacking style of football which generally involves taking the most direct route to goal.
• Roy of the Rovers stuff: event during a game, or an entire game, in which a player or team is seen to have overcome some sort of extreme adversity prior to victory, or secured victory in an overtly spectacular or dramatic fashion, especially against a team generally considered to be "stronger". The term originates from the long-running football-themed English comic strip Roy of the Rovers, in which such events were commonplace.
• Row Z: cliché used by commentators to describe the hypothetical destination of a forceful clearance, on the assumption that rows in which spectators are seated are ordered alphabetically so that row Z is the furthest from the pitch. Also used to describe a shot which goes a long way over the crossbar.

S

• Safety: see Survive.
• Save: when a goalkeeper prevents the football from crossing the goal line between the goalposts.
• Scissor kick: see Bicycle kick.
• Scorpion kick: acrobatic kick of the type first notably performed as a save by René Higuita in 1995 while playing for Colombia at Wembley Stadium against England.
• Scrimmage: see goalmouth scramble.
• Seal dribble: type of dribble, in which a player flicks the ball up from the ground onto their head and then proceeds to run past opponents whilst bouncing the ball on top of their forehead, somewhat imitating a seal.
• Season: the time period during which primary competitions in a certain country are played. In most European countries the season starts around September and ends in May, with a winter break in December and January. In other countries the season is played within a single calendar year. It is often customary to use the Super Cup to mark the beginning of a season while the Cup final usually marks its end.
• Sending off: see red card.
• Set piece: dead ball routine that the attacking team has specifically practised, such as a free kick taken close to the D.
• Shielding: defensive technique, in which a defensive player positions their body between the ball and an attacking opponent, in order to prevent that opponent from reaching the ball. At all times while shielding the ball, the defender must maintain control of the ball within a nominal playing distance, otherwise the technique becomes obstruction, and a foul is called.
• Shin pads or Shin guards: mandatory piece of equipment, usually made of plastic or rubber, worn underneath the socks in order to protect the shins.
• Shoot: specialised kicking technique mainly used by forwards. The purpose of shooting is to get the ball past the goal line (usually beating the goalkeeper in the process), though some shots may be made in order to win corners or force the keeper to deflect the ball into the path of a teammate - this will only be the case if scoring directly from the shot seems unlikely. To attempt to shoot is to take a shot.
• Shootout: see penalty shootout.
• Shutout: see Clean sheet.
• Side netting: outside of the net part of the goal, which stretches back from the goalpost to the stanchion.
• Silver goal: rule which was briefly in use between 2002 and 2004 in some UEFA competitions when elimination matches were level after 90 minutes. In extra time, the match would end if one team was winning after fifteen minutes of extra time. Unlike the golden goal, the game did not finish the moment a goal was scored.
• Silver player: Used to describe a non-standard player with stats rated at 88 across the board.
• Simulation: see diving. Also used to refer to tournament simulations run in Pro Evolution Soccer by people in the 4chan Cup community.
• Slav goal: Goal scored during the final two minutes that grants the scoring team a win. Named after Putin's two match-winning goals during The World Series Cup.
• Slide tackle: type of tackle where the defending player slides along the ground to tackle their opponent.
• Soccer: alternative name for the sport of association football. Originating in Britain, and derived from the "s-o-c" in "association", the word was commonly used in the UK until the 1970s. Now it is used most commonly in countries where other codes of football are prominent, for instance American football in the United States, and Australian rules football and rugby league in Australia.
• Spot-kick: see penalty-kick.
• Squad numbers: numerical markings on players' shirts used to distinguish individual players in a game of football. First used in 1928, and initially assigned to distinguish positions in a formation, they gradually became associated with individual players, irrespective of where they are positioned on the pitch. This gave rise to the custom of retiring numbers.
• Squad rotation system: managerial device, whereby the manager selects from a large number of players in first team games, rather than having a regular first eleven.
• Square ball: when a ball is passed between teammates laterally, across the field of play.
• Squeaky-bum time: tense final stages of a league competition, especially from the point of view of the title contenders, and clubs facing promotion and relegation. Coined by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
• Stamina: Player attribute which depletes as they perform physical activity during a match. Ending a match with a very low level of stamina will contribute to fatigue, if the feature is enabled in-game.
• Stanchion: part of the framework of the goal which holds the upper rear part of the net in the air and away from the crossbar.
• Stepover: skill move performed by an attacking player in which the player with the ball will move their foot over the ball without making contact with it. The intent of the move is to confuse a defender into thinking that the attacking player is moving with the ball in a certain direction; when the defender changes direction, the attacker will quickly change direction. Also spelt step over.
• Stoppage time: an additional number of minutes at the end of each half, determined by the match officials, to compensate for time lost during the game. Informally known by various names, including injury time and added time.
• Striker: one of the four main positions in football. Strikers are the players closest to the opposition goal, with the principal role of scoring goals. Also known as forward or attacker.
• Substitute: player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player.
• Sudden death: feature of penalty shootouts. If scores are level after each side has taken five penalties, the shootout continues until one side misses.
• Supporter: see fan.
• Survive: opposite of Relegation, when a struggling team secures enough points to guarantee their position in that league for the following season. Also known as securing safety.
• Suspension: players are forced to miss their team's next game(s) if they pick up an alloted number of bookings in league or tournament matches, or are sent off in a previous fixture.
• Sweeper: defender whose role is to protect the space between the goalkeeper and the rest of the defence. Also referred to as libero.

T

• Tackle: method of a player winning the ball back from an opponent, achieved either by using a leg to wrest possession from the opponent, or making a slide tackle to knock the ball away. A tackle in which the opposing player is kicked before the ball is punishable by either a free kick or penalty kick. Dangerous tackles may also result in a yellow or red card. See also reducer.
• Target man: type of striker. Usually tall, with a strong build and good heading ability, capable of controlling or attacking balls in the air. Target men give the forward line different options in how to attack the goal, and are often used to hold up the ball or play layoff passes to their teammates.
• Technical area: area within which the manager must remain while coaching their team during a match, marked by white lines at the side of the pitch.
• Testimonial match: friendly match organised in honour of a player before their retirement.
• Three points for a win: point system in which three points are awarded to the team winning a match, with no points to the losing team. If the game is drawn, each team receives one point. Replacing the previous convention of two and one points awarded for wins and draws respectively, the system is intended to encourage teams to attack in search of a win, rather than settle for a draw.
• Through-ball: pass from the attacking team that goes straight through the opposition's defence to a team-mate. Invariably the team-mate will run onto the ball – standing behind the defenders when the ball was played would result in offside being called.
• Throw-in: method of restarting play. Involves a player throwing the ball from behind a touchline after it has been kicked out by an opponent.
• Tiki-taka: style of play characterised by short passing and movement, working the ball through various channels and maintaining possession. The style is primarily associated with Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. See also One touch.
• Toe punt: method of kicking the ball with the tip of the foot. Also known as a toe poke.
• Too good to go down: belief, often misguided, that the ability within a team will preclude it from relegation.
• Top corner: the parts of the goal immediately below the two 90° angles where the crossbar and posts intersect. Generally considered the most difficult part of the goal for a goalkeeper to reach.
• Total Football: tactical theory in which any outfield player can take over the role of any other player in a team. Invented by the Dutch coach Rinus Michels, Total Football was popularised by AFC Ajax and the Netherlands national team in the early 1970s.
• Touch-line: markings along the side of the pitch, indicating the boundaries of the playing area. Throw-ins are taken from behind this line.
• Trap: skill performed by a player, whereupon the player uses their foot (or, less commonly, their chest or thigh) to bring an airborne or falling ball under control.
• Two-footed tackle: challenge where a player, often a defender, tackles their opponent with both feet. Such tackles often result in a foul being called, if the tackling player is deemed not to be in control of his or her body.

U

• Underdog: the team that is not expected to win a particular game or competition.
• Under the cosh: a team's defence experiences a period of concerted or unrelenting attacking play.
• Unofficial: A match or tournament not governed by the 4CCC.
• Upset: game in which the underdog defeats a higher ranked team.
• Utility player: player who can be used in different positions or for different roles transcending the traditional division of outfield players into defenders, midfielders and strikers.

V

• Volley: pass or shot in which the ball is struck before it touches the ground.
• Vuvuzela: plastic horn-shaped instruments popularised by supporters at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South AfrBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTTTTTT.

W

• Wall: row of defensive players who line up 10 yards away from a free kick, covering a portion of the goal, with the intent making it more difficult for an attacking player to have a shot on goal direct from the free kick.
• Wing: area of the pitch that runs parallel to the sidelines.
• Winger: wide midfield player whose primary focus is to provide crosses into the penalty area. Alternatively known as a wide midfielder.
• Winning a foul: see Diving.
• Woodwork: common description of the posts and the crossbar, as in "the ball came back off the woodwork", meaning a shot at goal struck either the post or the crossbar and remained in play. The expression is still widely used even though goals are no longer made of wood.
• Work rate: the extent to which a player contributes to running and chasing in a match while not in possession of the ball. Sometimes spelt workrate or work-rate.

Y

• Yellow card: shown by the referee to a player who commits a cautionable offence. If a player commits two cautionable offences in a match, they are shown a second yellow card, followed by a red card, and is sent off. Also known as a caution or a booking.
• Yo-yo club: club that is regularly promoted and relegated between higher and lower league levels. Also known in other languages as elevator team, for instance Fahrstuhlmannschaften in German.

Z

• Zonal marking: system of marking, in which each player is responsible for an area of the pitch, rather than an opposing player.